SORTIE REPORT #6283
MISSION DATA:
DATE 384th BG Mission # 8th AF Mission # 384th PRIMARY TARGET
1944‑09‑11 192 623 Target: Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Lützkendorf & Merseburg, Germany
Primary Targets Spared By Weather: The 384th Bombardment Group (H) flew as the high section of the 41st A Combat Bombardment Wing (41A Group) and as the high section of the 41st B Combat Bombardment Wing (41B Group) on this mission. The primary target for the 41A Group, Lützkendorf oil installations in Germany, were obscured by a solid undercast, as was the secondary and an airfield near Giessen. Finally, a successful visual attack was accomplished on an unidentified factory in the Friedberg, Germany, area. This group saw several Me-163 'Komet' rocket-powered aircraft in the vicinity of Leipzig, and one near the Belgian coast, but they were not attacked. The 41B Group primary target, oil installations in the Merseburg, Germany, area was obscured by weather conditions. The formation then proceeded to the secondary target. Although the rest of the formation broke off the attack, the 384th pressed on and were able to drop their bombs in the vicinity of the target, although results were deemed 'poor.' This group was attacked by a single ME163 'Komet' rocket-powered aircraft, which made two passes on his formation (the high and low squadrons), in the vicinity of the primary target.
SORTIE DATA:
COMBAT CREDIT STATUS TARGET ATTACKED (MODE)
Yes Completed Mission
Comments: 41B Group. Landed at home base about one-and-one-half hours after the rest of the Group. No explanation found in mission documents.
Other (Visual)
Target: Factories
Type: Industry
Location: Friedburg & Eisenach, Germany
SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA:
TYPE SERIAL NUMBER SQUADRON SQ CODE NAME
B-17G 42‑102566 545th JD*M NINA
SORTIE CREW DATA:
POSITION CREWMEMBER UNIT STATUS
Pilot Farra, Robert Leslie 545 Completed, Uninjured
Co-pilot O'Donnell, Phillip John 545 Completed, Uninjured
Navigator Richardson, Frederick Madison 545 Completed, Uninjured
Bombardier Hannan, John Michael 545 Completed, Uninjured
Radio Operator Schwartzly, Anthony Joseph 545 Completed, Uninjured
Engineer/Top Turret McGee, Earl Thomas 545 Completed, Uninjured
Ball Turret Henderson, Clinton Lee 545 Completed, Uninjured
Tail Gunner Rothschild, Theodore (NMI) 545 Completed, Uninjured
Waist (Flexible) Gunner Freitas, Lawrence Ernest 545 Completed, Uninjured
Sortie Report 6283 provided by 384thBombGroup.com
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